Sri Swamiji

One of the greatest spiritual leaders of the present day is an asset to India and the world at large. He is an incarnation of the Great Cosmic Power. Revival of culture, reformation of society, establishing peace and happiness among mankind and spiritual elevation of humanity to divinity is His mission. His methods include the Veda and Nada i.e. establishing Dharma through the various Vedic rituals and propagating the immense benefits of Nada Upasana (Attaining bliss through Music for Meditation). He adopts all the traditional philosophies of Bhakti, Jnana, Karma and Yoga paths to suit the requirements of the modern man. Singing devotional hymns, reciting the names of the Lord Almighty and group singing, he reiterates is the easiest way to attain the divine grace in this Kaliyuga.

His Holiness Sri Swamiji - a rare yogi of Avadhoota lineage was born in Mekedatu (Karnataka ) - a tiny village situated at the confluence of sacred rivers of Kaveri , Arakvati and Gupta Gamini . This village is nested in the Sahayadri mountain range considered as the abode of Lord Dattatreya.

Sri Swamiji was born on 26th May 1942 to Mata Jaya Lakshmi and Gandluri Narsimha Shastri . Mataji was an accomplished Yogi and was guided for her spiritual austerities by Karapatra Yateendra Yogi and Fakir Taata- a Sufi Mystic. Swamiji's father belonged to a family of Vedic Scholars. Guided in the spiritual matters by Mata Jaya Lakshmi, Satyanarayna (as Swamiji was named in childhood) grew up in the sacred Avadhoota tradition. Right from childhood, Swamiji used to be devotedly immersed in Veda and Nada. Swamiji went through formal education only for some years. As the mundane worldly life had least lure or attraction for Sri Swamiji, he fully took the spiritual life and settled in Mysore. Having established the Ashrama in its present location in Mysore in June 1966, his spiritual mission started unfolding itself and within a short span of time his supreme spiritual stature began to be acknowledged with devotion and reverence by large sections of people in India as well as abroad.

Sri Swamiji believes in the ancient Indian concept of a Global Family and been traveling the world to help seekers all over the globe to discover divinity. In Him devotees find compassion, love and the divine wisdom as He guides them on the path of Yoga sadhana - to discover and realize their true Self. Sri Swamiji conveys an important part of His message through His music, being noted for His Namasankeertana style of preaching. Sri Swamiji's music is devotional and used for spiritual energy transmission. A proficient Musician capable of playing several instruments and singing in various styles, this great master sings self-composed bhajans in Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and English and plays several healing ragas on a modified electronic synthesizer fondly addressed to as DattaVeena by Him, accompanied by musicians on various classical Indian instruments. Devotees around the world claim to have received immense benefit through his concerts, everything from physical healing to spiritual guidance, and great outpouring of divine love. His audiences include great musical scholars, heads of states, people of various languages, states, religions and faiths all amalgamated into a single group of music lovers, transgressing all physical and intellectual barriers and attaining bliss through His divine Music.
Being the Spiritual Head of Avadhoota Datta Peetham Sri Swamiji has consecrated more than 30 Datta Temples and established nearly 70 centers called Jnana Bodha Sabhas (Centers for Divine Knowledge) and Datta Yoga Centers for the spiritual rejuvenation of people and propagation of the ancient Indian culture and philosophy. Besides disseminating the teachings of Lord Datta and Sri Swamiji these centers also undertake socially beneficial Humanitarian work. He also counsels millions of people in their spiritual and mundane life matters.

Sri Swamiji's Music
Sri Swamiji's music is known for its healing effects. How does Swamiji's music heal? The answer will not be far-fetched to a genuine enquirer. In the first place if we see what is at the back of all medicines which are used for healing purposes and if we ask what it is in them that heals, we shall find that it is the different elements which constitute our physical being. The same elements are present in these medicines as well, and that which is lacking in us is taken from them, or the effect which should be produced in our body is produced by them. The vibration which is necessary for our cure is brought about by bringing the circulation of the blood into a certain rhythm and speed. Sri Swamiji's music is the language and expression of soul to soul. He perceives each soul as a musical note, and while playing his music, He creates a harmony not of musical notes but a harmony of human souls. His music is aimed at shifting the level of consciousness of the listeners helping them to experience inner peace, harmony and quietude of mind. At a wider level, His music fosters the, bonds of friendship, goodwill and unity among mankind. The unique feature of Sri Swamiji's music lies in its spiritual base. Founded on Raga Ragini Vidya and Raga Chikitsa - the great ancient knowledge pertaining to music, Sri Swamiji's music carries the spiritual energy-transmission effect.
Sri Swamiji has composed more than 5,000 songs in various languages and has conducted more than 200 Music for Meditation and Healing concerts all over the world and traveled across the globe more than 100 times dissipating the energy in music to transoceanic audiences.

Music Therapy
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji sees healing with music as a yogic practice. Yoga teaches that the astral body has 72000 nervelets and 14 major nadis or nerves. Each nadi vibrates at its own frequency. Music soothes the nadis and helps them to vibrate at the proper rate. Music becomes a therapy, He says, when the healer, musicians and listeners all deeply concentrate on the sound. Sri Swamiji stresses on concentration or Ekagrata on the part of the healer musician and the listener. Listening is a special technique where sense control or Indriya Nigraha is required. "Physical health results from a healthy mind," Sri Swamiji says. "Music of the right type helps in achieving relaxation by soothing the nerves and through that comes peace and stillness of the mind."

Social Service Projects
Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama, Mysore, founded by Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji, is a world-renowned institution in service of mankind. Pujya Sri Swamiji's universal vision and deep compassion to uplift humanity has inspired the Avadhoota Datta Peetham to run a vast variety of programs, activities and projects towards enrichment of human life. Pujya Sri Swamiji, an Avadhoota imbued with the highest spiritual attainments, is Himself ceaselessly engaged in giving direction and shape to the Peetham's diverse programs and projects.
It is primarily the value placed on the intrinsic worthiness of human life and the paramount need of enhancing the same, which constitutes the underlying philosophy behind the multi - dimensional activities of the Peetham.